Passenger Transport Law: VSPV presents reform concept, criticism of the new BVPB

The new association claims to speak on behalf of member companies with 3,000 employees, while the founder's own company employs more than 1,000 staff. This constellation raises, from the VSPV's point of view, questions about the independence of such an interest group.

In terms of substance, the BVPB, among other things, calls for the abolition of the return-to-base requirement for rental cars, the end of municipal tariff specifications, as well as the prevention of minimum charges. Fixed taxi fares are therefore not envisaged. The VSPV classifies these positions as largely deregulation demands.

Regulatory framework in focus

The North Rhine-Westphalian association refers in its paper to the regulatory principles of the Social Market Economy. Competition needs a clear state framework in order to remain functional. In its view, unregulated markets tend toward concentration processes, in which financially strong actors could build market power.

It also views dynamic pricing systems critically. According to its presentation, these lead to low prices when demand is low, but high prices in times of increased demand, for example at night or under particular weather conditions.

Separation of basic mobility and market traffic

The VSPV emphasizes at the same time that it is not fundamentally against platforms or taxi traffic. The association represents, according to its own statements, taxi and rental-car companies as well as bus, patient transport and ambulance services. Platform-mediated traffic is explicitly recognized in the position paper as complementary traffic.